Dr.Bombay Ice Cream Shop by Malachi Wright in Long Beach

I’m an artist from a small village just outside Chicago, and my work is deeply shaped by my environment and the people who raised me. Growing up in a creatively rich household, my mom and older brother were my first teachers. We’d spend hours drawing together, pausing TV shows and videos to recreate what we saw. That shared process, where “iron sharpens iron,” became the foundation of my practice and the beginning of my visual language. My work lives at the intersection of childlike wonder and layered, contemporary themes, exploring Black culture and history, comedy, childhood, and racism. I aim to create spaces that feel both familiar and unexpected, often portraying Black people in joyful, everyday moments that evoke calm, nostalgia, and reflection. These scenes invite viewers to reconnect with shared experiences while seeing them in a new light. Across my practice, I work through a mix of mediums including painting (acrylic and oil), digital illustration, printmaking, and mixed media, often experimenting with surfaces like canvas, glass, paper, and found materials. This range allows me to translate my ideas across both physical and digital spaces, blending traditional techniques with contemporary processes. My journey as an artist began early, by fifth grade I had already started my own art business, which grew from selling to classmates into reaching a global audience. Over time, my work has been recognized and supported by influential figures and institutions. I’ve had artwork used by Young Thug, appeared on the Steve Harvey Show, and met cultural icons like Martin Lawrence. I was also commissioned by Snoop Dogg to design the cover for his 2019 album I Wanna Thank Me. Beyond that, I’ve collaborated with brands like ESPN, Lenovo, and Essentia, and created work for collectors including Chance the Rapper, all while funding my education through my art practice. I graduated from UCLA in 2024 with a degree in Design & Media Arts, and I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Illustration at California State University, Long Beach. Compositionally, I balance realism with stylization and abstraction, playing with color, contrast, texture, and perspective to build immersive, sometimes surreal environments. I push myself to place figures and narratives in unexpected contexts, challenging both my own approach and the viewer’s perception of Black life and culture. At its core, my work creates space, space to feel, to reflect, and to experience worlds that are both deeply personal and universally human.